August is always a quiet month when it comes to wildlife. Fledglings have fledged, adult birds are taking a breather with many getting ready to migrate, and animals are keeping a low profile, chilling out for the summer.
The best morning of the month was spent at RSPB Fowlmere. We went to find a Tawny Owlet that had been posing well for quite a few days. We did see it peeking out behind lots of undergrowth. Later, as we were watching this lovely Kingfisher hiding in the willow trees, the young Owl flew in front of the hide and into the trees at the back and was not seen again. So no photographs but we did see it what a treat.
The early morning sun was just catching the back feathers on the Kingfisher making them shine like a precious jewels.
Two lovely little Water Voles kept us entertained for quite a while.
Lots of little birds were hopping around the reed bed and willow tree in front of the hide. This is a Chiff Chaff, but we also saw Reed Warblers, Longtailed Tits, Great Tits, Blue Tits and a Wren. The area was alive with them all.
A Grey Heron was getting a good breakfast out on the mere.
A mteallic blue Banded Demioselle. Such beautiful damselflies. They like lush vegeatation along side slow moving waterways and lakes and ponds.
A walk around the boardwalk at Wicken Fen is always very relaxing. Lots of swallows were feeding up in preperation for their long journey back to Africa.
A Common Lizard was basking in the warmth of a handrail and seemed quite happy to have his picture taken.
We were lucky to spot this Female Migrant Hawker dragonfly on our local dog walk. There were lots of Hawker Dragonflies darting about but this was the only one that decided to take a quick break.
Common Darters, this one is a female, followed us along the hedgeline. Possibly waiting for any small insects that our feet may disturb so that they could pounce on them. Darters are some of the easiest dragonflies to spot and photograph as they rest and pose for you.
Back in the garden a few butterflies were finally starting to appear on the Buddleia, not many though. The underneath of a Red Admirals wing is like a tapestry, who knew the wings were so beautiful closed as well as open.
We have had a constant stream of Hornets visiting the small garden pond. We think we may have two nests nearby as some arrive and leave from the woodside and some in a completely opposite direction. Unlike Wasps, Hornets are usually very calm insects and just want to be left alone to get on with their lives. Unless you get their flight path or they get into the house after dark. Attracted by the house lights,they get disorientated and then they are not very happy, as we have found out.
At the end of August Mr Dobson and Mr Diss, at the invitation of Sunningdale Golf Club, spent a full and hectic five days photographing all the action of Curtis Cup Competition.
The Curtis Cup, organised by the R&A and hosted this year by Sunningdale Golf Club, is the most prestigious team trophy for women amateur golfers and contested biennially by teams representing GB&I and the United States. And our girls won.
Pictured above is the GB&I team and their caddies with captain Catrina Matthews looking on.
For all the pictures from the five days go to https://kevindiss.com/curtis-cup-sunningdale-old-course-2024.